Shoe outsole

ABSTRACT

An outsole has a generally flat ground-engaging surface and elongated recesses projecting upwardly into the sole proper from the ground-engaging surface. One recess extends transversely across the toe area of the sole. Another extends longitudinally along the outer side of the sole in the ball area. Still others extend obliquely through the ball area and terminate in the vicinity of the shank area. Two more are arranged side-by-side in the heel area and extend longitudinally therein. All recesses have arcuate longitudinal margins and are V-shaped in transverse cross section. The foregoing arrangement and configurations of the recesses afford excellent footing when quick starts or changes in position are attempted, both in forward and lateral directions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Louis C. Brock 9716 Bonhomme EstatesDrive, Olivette, Mo. 63132 [21] Appl. No. 16,364 [22] Filed Mar. 4, 1970[45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] SHOE OUTSOLE 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 36/59 C [51] lnt.Cl ....A43b 13/00 [50] Field of Search36/59 C, 28, 14

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D78,502 5/1929 Blair36/59CUX 1,988,784 l/1935 Carrier 36/59C 2,611,194 9/1952 De Nitzio36/59C Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Att0rneyGravely, Lieder &Woodruff ABSTRACT: An outsole has a generally flat ground-engagingsurface and elongated recesses projecting upwardly into the sole properfrom the ground-engaging surface. One recess extends transversely acrossthe toe area of the sole. Another extends longitudinally along the outerside of the sole in the ball area. Still others extend obliquely throughthe ball area and terminate in the vicinity of the shank area. Two moreare arranged side-byside in the heel area and extend longitudinallytherein. All recesses have arcuate longitudinal margins and are V-shapedin transverse cross section. The foregoing arrangement andconfigurations of the recesses afford excellent footing when quickstarts or changes in position are attempted, both in forward and lateraldirections.

SHOE oursou:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general tofootwear and more particularly to outsoles for shoes.

In many athletic events movements in lateral directions are just asimportant as movements in the forward direction, and therefore it isimportant to have good footing or traction for lateral starts as well asforward starts. This is particularly true in baseball For example, whenattempting to steal a base, the base runner invariably starts with hisbody facing the pitcher and feet positioned perpendicularly to the basepath, since in that position the runner can easily retreat to base fromwhich he has taken a lead or else move on to the next base. The positionfurthermore does not disclose the runner's intentions to the opposingpitcher. Likewise, the batter positions his feet in the batters box suchthat they are perpendicular to the path of the ball. When the batterswings at a pitch he again shifts his weight in a lateral direction andit is therefore important that the batter have good footing in a lateraldirection also. Similarly, in fielding a ballplayer moves laterally asoften as forwardly and backwardly, particularly if he is playing one ofthe infield positions, and consequently lateral thrust is an importantfactor in fielding also.

Athletic shoes of current manufacture are designed primarily for forwardmovement and little consideration is given to the footing necessary tohave quick lateral starts and good lateral movements.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One of the principal objects of the presentinvention is to provide a shoe outsole which affords excellent footingfor movements in lateral directions as well as the forward direction.Another object is to provide a shoe sole which provides good footing andquick starts on natural outdoor surfaces such as dirt and turf. Afurther object is to provide a shoe, having an outsole of the typedescribed, which is extremely comfortable. Another object is to providea shoe sole which does not damage or injure the surface it engages andtherefore is suitable for use on many types of athletic surfaces, bothindoors and outdoors. Still another object is to provide a shoe solewhich is attractive in appearance and economical to manufacture. Afurther object of this invention is to provide a shoe suitable for youngathletes, said shoe providing traction without spikes. Still anotherobject is to provide an athletic shoe sole with wide recesses which areeasily cleaned and which are not easily clogged with foreign matter.These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is embodied in an outsolehaving an outer fieldengaging surface and a plurality of tractioninducing surfaces at a different elevation from the first surface. Thetraction-inducing surfaces are arranged across the field-engagingsurface to afford excellent footing for movements in both forward andlateral directions. The invention also consists in the parts and in thearrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings which form partof the specification and wherein like numerals and letters refer to likeparts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an outsole constructed in accordancewith and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 and furthershowing the remaining portion of the shoe in phantom; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows anoutsole 2 which is particularly suited for use on canvas athletic andleisure shoes designated by the broken lines 3 in FIG. 2. It is alsosuitable for use on shoes of other varieties and shoes manufactured fromother compositions. Preferably the outsole 2 is molded as an integralunit from a flexible elastomeric substance.

The outsole 2 has an upper surface 4 which fits against and is securednormally by way of an adhesive to the insole of the shoe 3. It also hasa flat side face 6 which projects above the upper surface 4 to form acontinuous lip 8 (FIGS. 2 and 3) around the sole 2. The lip 8 surroundsand obscures the insole of the shoe 3.

The outsole 2 has a bottom surface 10 which for the most part is flat.The surface 10 engages the field or playing surface and, unlike thesurface 4, has a roughened texture to increase the friction between itand whatever playing surface it may engage. For convenience ofreference, the sole 2, and particularly the bottom ground-engagingsurface 10 thereof, may be divided into a toe area 12 which underliesthe wearers toes, a ball area 14 presented underneath the ball of thewearers foot, a shank area 16 over which the wearers instep extends, anda heel area 18 which is located beneath the wearers heel. The side face6 may be divided into an inner side 20 and an outer side 22. Both sides20 and 22 curve toward one another at the shank area 16 and thecurvature of the former is more pronounced than the curvature of thelater, the point of greatest curvature thereon being at the juncture ofthe ball area 14 and the shank area 16.

Extending transversely across the toe area 12 is an elongated recess 30which intersects the flat bottom surface 10 at parallel leading andtrailing margins 32 and 34. Both the leading and trailing margins 32 and34 have a slight amount of curvature, and are oriented with theirconcave sides presented rearwardly toward the heel area 18. Thus, therecess 30 possesses a slightly arcuate configuration. In cross sectionthe recess 30 is V-shaped, having converging flat surfaces 38 and 40extending inwardly from the margins 32 and 34, respectively. Thosesurfaces 38 and 40 intersect at a raised centerline 42. The side margins34 have side surfaces 44 extending upwardly from them, and while thosesurfaces converge, they do not intersect each other but insteadintersect the converging flat surfaces 38 and 40. The surfaces 38 40 and44 induce greater traction than might otherwise be available if thebottom surface 10 were continuous and not interrupted with recesses suchas the recess 30.

Behind the recess 30 the ball area 14 is provided with anotherdownwardly opening elongated recess 50 which likewise is V-shaped intransverse cross section and has parallel arcuate margins. Indeed, therecess 50 is for all practical purposes identical to the recess 30except for the fact that it is slightly longer and is oriented in adifferent direction. The configuration of the recess 50 will therefornot be described in greater detail. The recess 50 is set slightlyinwardly from the outer side 22 of the side face 6, and the convex sidesof its arcuate margins are presented outwardly.

The ball area 14 is traversed by another recess 52 which like the recess30 is V-shaped in cross section and has arcuate leading and trailingmargins. The recess 52 commences adjacent to the inner side 20 of theside face 6 directly opposite from the recess 50 and extends obliquelytoward the shank area 16. At its other end the recess 52 passes behindthe recess 50 and terminates adjacent to the other side 22 within orclose to the front portion of the shank area 16. In this area that isbehind the recess 50, the curvature of the leading and trailing marginsof the recess 52 diminishes and the recess 52 assumes a generallystraight direction. The convex sides of the leading and trailing marginsof the recess 52 are presented forwardly toward the recesses 30 and 50.

Generally paralleling the recess 52 and located immediately inwardlyfrom and to the rear of it is another oblique recess 54 which also hasarcuate margins and a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Theforward end of the recess 52 commences adjacent to the inner side 20 ofthe side face 6, while the rear end thereof extends into and terminateswithin the shank area 16. The recess 54 extends only partially acrossthe bottom surface 10, and its rear end is for the most part disposedwithin the inner half of the shank area 16. Since the recess 54parallels the recess 52, the convex sides of its arcuate margins areoriented in the same direction. Thus, the convex sides of its marginsare presented toward the recesses 52 and 50.

To the rear of the recess 54 where the narrowest portion of the shankarea 16 exists, the shank area 16 is free of recesses. it is, however,traversed by a pair of slightly embossed ribs 56, and in between theribs 56 that flat bottom surface has a slightly rougher texture than theremaining portion of the bottom surface 10.

The heel area 18 has a pair of recesses 58 which are located oppositeeach other. The recesses 58, like the recess 50, are orientedlongitudinally of the bottom surface 10 and, furthermore, have arcuatelongitudinal margins and a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. Theinner recess 58 is located adjacent to the inner side 20 of the sideface 6 and has the convex sides of its margins presented toward thatside 20. The outer recess 58 is located adjacent to the outer side 22 ofthe side face 6, and the convex sides of its arcuate margins arepresented toward that side 22.

The outsole 2 is ideally suited for use on natural outdoor surfaces suchas dirt and turf. On either type of surface and particularly the former,excellent footing or traction in a forward direction is provided, andthis is attributable primarily to the recess 30. in particular, thatrecess extends transversely of the bottom surface 10 and the foot andpermits dirt or turf to enter the sole 2 across substantially the entirewidth of the bottom surface 10. This in turn creates a firmer bite intothe dirt or turf so that the chances of slipping are minimized. lnasmuchas the toe is the last portion of the foot to leave the ground whenwalking or running forwardly and is the portion of the foot throughwhich the forward thrust is applied, the bite is maintained throughoutthe duration the foot is on the ground. In other words, the only fullytransverse recess in the sole 2, that is the recess 30, is positioned inthe toe area 12, and during forward motion that area remains inengagement with the ground for the longest duration and at the time whenthe leg muscles apply the forward thrust.

The recesses 50, 52 and 54 also assist in establishing a bite into theground, but by reason of their position and orientation, they are not aseffective as the recess 30 insofar as movement in a forward direction isconcerned.

As previously noted, however, in many sports footing in a lateraldirection is just as important as or perhaps even more important thanfooting in a forward direction. The outsole 2 affords excellent footingor traction in either lateral direction due to the generallylongitudinal orientation of the recesses 50 and 58, and the obliqueorientation of the recesses 52 and 54. All of the recesses 50, 52, 54and 58 permit the dirt or turf to enter the sole 2 for alongapproximately the entire length of that sole 2 so as to establish a goodbite with the ground. Consequently, when the leg muscles push off tomove the body in a lateral direction, good traction is achieved andslippage is again minimized. Thus, the lateral thrust exerted by thelegs is put to maximum benefit and little of it is wasted.

In many instances, as the leg exerts lateral thrust the foot tends topivot on its ball. The oblique orientation and arcuate contour of therecesses 54 and 56 permit such pivoting, yet remain positioned to affordmaximum thrust in an oblique direction without slippage also.

in view of the foregoing, excellent footing is achieved and quick startsare possible in both forward and lateral directions. This improvedfooting, and particularly the ability to derive exceptional lateralthrust, makes the outsole 2 ideally suited for sandlot baseball andsoftball games. Indeed, it has been said that the shoes equipped withoutsoles 2 are closest to spikedshoes yet in flat sole shoe.

The V-shaped cross-sectional shape of the recesses 30, 50, 52, 54 and 58affords excellent thrust and traction, yet resists the tendency for dirtand other foreign matter to lodge in those recesses. Also by reason ofthe V-shaped configuration the recesses 30, S0, 52, 54 and 58 are easilycleaned of dirt and foreign matter which may become lodged in them. Theside walls of the recesses are at an angle of l0 or more, preferablymore than 20 with the vertical. The recesses are slightly more than onehalf the thickness of the sole for wearing qualities and protection ofthe foot against stepping on sharp objects or pebbles.

Since the outsole 2 has no projections extending downwardly from itsflat bottom surfaces 10, it is suitable for use on artificial surfacessuch as asphalt and wood, the former of which is found primarilyoutdoors, while the latter is used indoors for such sports as basketballand volleyball.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosurewhich do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention,

What is claimed is:

1. An outsole formed from a flexible material and comprising a generallyflat surface and elongated traction-inducing surfaces presented at adifferent elevation than the generally flat surface, the elongatedtraction-inducing surfaces being V- shaped in transverse cross sectionand having arcuate longitudinal margins, one elongated traction-inducingsurface extending transversely of the sole at the toe area thereof,another traction-inducing surface extending longitudinally of the soleadjacent to the outer side thereof in the ball area of the sole, stillanother traction-inducing surface extending obliquely from the innerside of the sole across the ball area to the outer side of the sole andterminating behind the longitudinal traction-inducing surface, and moreelongated tractioninducing surfaces extending longitudinally of the soleand in side-by-side relation at the heel area of the sole.

2. An outsole formed from a flexible material and comprising a pluralityof elongated recesses, the longitudinal margins of which are generallyparallel and arcuate, one recess being in the toe area of the sole andoriented generally transversely of the sole with the convex sides of itsarcuate margins presented forwardly, another recess being in the ballarea of the sole adjacent the outer side thereof and oriented generallylongitudinally of the sole with the convex sides of its arcuate marginsbeing presented toward the outer side of the sole, still another recessextending obliquely across the sole and having its forwardmost endadjacent to the inner side of the sole generally opposite from thelongitudinal recess and its rearmost end adjacent to the outer side ofthe sole to the rear of the longitudinal recess, the oblique recesshaving the convex sides of its arcuate margins presented toward thelongitudinal recess in the ball area, and a pair of the recesses beinglocated side by side in the heel area of the sole and orientedlongitudinally of the sole with the convex sides of the arcuate marginsfor each heel recess being presented toward the side of the sole closestto that recess.

3. An outsole according to claim 2 wherein the recesses are V-shaped intransverse cross section.

4. An outsole according to claim 2 wherein the ground-engaging surfacehas a rough texture.

5. An outsole for providing substantial thrust in directions lateral tothe body; said outsole being formed from a flexible material and havinga generally flat ground-engaging surface and a plurality of elongatedrecesses opening outwardly from the ground-engaging surface and beingcompletely isolated from one another by the ground-engaging surface, onerecess being located adjacent to the outer side of the sole in the ballarea thereof and oriented generally longitudinally of the sole, anotherrecess extending obliquely across the sole and having its forwardmostend adjacent the inner side of the sole and its rearmost end adjacent tothe outer side of the sole to the rear of the longitudinal recess, andstill another recess being located in the heel area of the sole andextending longitudinally of the sole.

6. An outsole according to claim 5 wherein yet another elongated recessis in the toe area of the sole ahead of the longitudinal recess in theball area and is oriented generally transversely of the sole.

7. An outsole according to claim 6 wherein still another recess extendsobliquely in the sole, the second oblique recess being located to therear of the first oblique recess.

8. An outsole according to claim 7 wherein the front end of the secondoblique recess is located adjacent to the inner side of the sole and therear end is located within the shank area of the sole 9. An outsole forproviding substantial thrust in directions lateral to the body; saidoutsole being formed from a flexible material and having a generallyflat ground-engaging surface and a plurality of elongated recessesopening outwardly from the ground-engaging surface and being completelyisolated from one another by the ground-engaging surface, one recessbeing in the toe area of the sole and oriented generally transversely ofthe sole, another recess being located adjacent to the outer side of thesole to the rear of the transverse recess and being oriented generallylongitudinally of the sole, still another recess extending obliquelyacross the sole and having its forward end adjacent to the inner side ofthe sole and directly across the sole from the longitudinal recess, andyet another recess being located in the heel area of the sole andextending longitudinally of the sole.

i i 1! t

1. An outsole formed from a flexible material and comprising a generallyflat surface and elongated traction-inducing surfaces presented at adifferent elevation than the generally flat surface, the elongatedtraction inducing surfaces being V-shaped in transverse cross sectionand having arcuate longitudinal margins, one elongated traction-inducingsurface extending transversely of the sole at the toe area thereof,another traction-inducing surface extending longitudinally of the soleadjacent to the outer side thereof in the ball area of the sole, stillanother traction-inducing surface extending obliquely from the innerside of the sole across the ball area to the outer side of the sole andterminating behind the longitudinal tractioninducing surface, and moreelongated traction-inducing surfaces extending longitudinally of thesole and in side-by-side relation at the heel area of the sole.
 2. Anoutsole formed from a flexible material and comprising a plurality ofelongated recesses, the longitudinal margins of which are generallyparallel and arcuate, one recess being in the toe area of the sole andoriented generally transversely of the sole with the convex sides of itsarcuate margins presented forwardly, another recess being in the ballarea of the sole adjacent the outer side thereof and oriented generallylongitudinally of the sole with the convex sides of its arcuate marginsbeing presented toward the outer side of the sole, still another recessextending obliquely across the sole and having its forwardmost endadjacent to the inner side of the sole generally opposite from thelongitudinal recess and its rearmost end adjacent to the outer side ofthe sole to the rear of the longitudinal recess, the oblique recesshaving the convex sides of its arcuate margins presented toward thelongitudinal recess in the ball area, and a pair of the recesses beinglocated side by side in the heel area of the sole and orientedlongitudinally of the sole with the convex sides of the arcuate marginsfor each heel recess being presented toward the side of the sole closestto that recess.
 3. An outsole according to claim 2 wherein the recessesare V-shaped in transverse cross section.
 4. An outsole according toclaim 2 wherein the ground-engaging surface has a rough texture.
 5. Anoutsole for providing substantial thrust in directions lateral to thebody; said outsole being formed from a flexible material and having agenerally flat ground engaging surface and a plurality of elongatedrecesses opening outwardly from the ground-engaging surface and beingcompletely isolated from one another by the ground-engaging surface, onerecess being located adjacent to the outer side of the sole in the ballarea thereof and oriented generally longitudinally of the sole, anotherrecess extending obliquely across the sole and having its forwardmostend adjacent the inner side of the sole and its rearmost end adjacent tothe outer side of the sole to the rear of the longitudinal recess, andstill another recess being located in the heel area of the sole andextending longitudinally of the sole.
 6. An outsole according to claim 5wherein yet another elongated recess is in the toe area of the soleahead of the longitudinal recess in the ball area and is orientedgenerally transversely of the sole.
 7. An outsole according to claim 6wherein still another recess extends obliquely in the sole, the secondoblique recess being located to the rear of the first oblique recess. 8.An outsole according to claim 7 wherein the front end of the secondoblique recess is located adjacent to the inner side of the sole and therear end is located within the shank area of the sole.
 9. An outsole forproviding substantial thrust in directions lateral to the body; saidoutsole being formed from a flexible material and having a generallyflat ground engaging surface and a plurality of elongated recessesopening outwardly from the ground-engaging surface and being completelyisolated from one another by the ground-engaging surface, one recessbeing in the toe area of the sole and oriented generally transversely ofthe sole, another recess being located adjacent to the outer side of thesole to the rear of the transverse recess and being oriented generallylongitudinally of the sole, still another recess extending obliquelyacross the sole and having its forward end adjacent to the inner side ofthe sole and directly across the sole from the longitudinal recess, andyet another recess being located in the heel area of the sole andextending longitudinally of the sole.